Server System, Non-Transitory Computer-Readable Medium Storing Computer-Readable Instructions For Server System, And Method Performed By Server System

ABSTRACT

A server system may, in a case where first identification information for identifying a first apparatus is inputted to a first terminal device, receive the first identification information from the first terminal device; in a case where the first identification information is received from the first terminal device, generate a first URL including first related information being related to the first identification information; send a message including the first URL to a second terminal device; in a case where a selection instruction of selecting the first URL included in the message is inputted to the second terminal device, receive the first related information from the second terminal device; and in a case where the first related information is received from the second terminal device, send screen information to the second terminal device, the screen information representing a registration screen for registering service information in the server system.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No.2018-015093 filed on Jan. 31, 2018, the contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference into the present application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure herein discloses a server system providing a specificservice.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

An information management server is known which provides a shippingservice for automatically shipping a new ink cartridge when an inkremaining amount in an ink cartridge mounted in a printer becomes small.In order to receive provision of such a shipping service, a useroperates a PC to access a website of the information management server,and obtains a PIN code from the information management server. Then, theuser operates the printer to cause the printer to send the PIN code andprinter information to the information management server. As a result,the printer information is registered in the information managementserver, and the information management server provides the shippingservice by using the registered printer information.

SUMMARY

In the above technique, in order to access the website of theinformation management server, the user needs to input a URL of thewebsite to the PC, or needs to search for the website.

The disclosure herein provides a technique for improving userconvenience in registering service information in a server system.

A server system disclosed herein may be configured to provide a specificservice. The server system may comprise: one or more processors; and oneor more memories storing one or more computer-readable instructionstherein, the one or more computer-readable instructions, when executedby the one or more processors, causing the server system to: in a casewhere first identification information for identifying a first apparatusis inputted to a first terminal device, receive the first identificationinformation from the first terminal device; in a case where the firstidentification information is received from the first terminal device,generate a first Uniform Resource Locator (URL) indicating a location inthe server system, the first URL including first related informationbeing related to the first identification information; send a messageincluding the generated first URL to a second terminal device; in a casewhere a selection instruction of selecting the first URL included in themessage displayed on the second terminal device is inputted to thesecond terminal device, receive the first related information includedin the first URL from the second terminal device; and in a case wherethe first related information is received from the second terminaldevice, send screen information to the second terminal device, thescreen information representing a registration screen being related to aprocess for registering service information in the server system, theservice information including information for a user of the firstapparatus identified by the first identification information beingrelated to the first related information to receive provision of thespecific service from the server system.

A control method and computer-readable instructions for implementationof the server system described above, and a non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium in which the computer-readableinstructions are stored, are also novel and useful. A communicationsystem comprising the server system described above and another device(e.g. at least one of the first terminal device, the first apparatus andthe second terminal device) is also novel and useful.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a communication system;

FIG. 2 shows a sequence diagram of a registration process;

FIG. 3 shows a continuation of the sequence diagram of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a continuation of the sequence diagram of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a sequence diagram of a cartridge shipping process;

FIG. 6 shows a sequence diagram of a registration process different fromFIG. 2; and

FIG. 7 shows a sequence diagram of a registration process of a secondembodiment.

EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment (Configuration of Communication System 2;FIG. 1)

As shown in FIG. 1, a communication system 2 comprises a service server100, an account server 200 configured separately from the service server100, and a storage server 300 configured separately from the servers100, 200. The servers 100, 200, 300 are provided on the Internet 6 by avendor of a printer (e.g., 50), and are capable of executing mutualcommunication via the Internet 6. The servers 100 to 300 are servers forproviding a shipping service of shipping a consumable article (e.g., inkcartridge, toner cartridge, etc.) to be used in a printer (e.g., 50) toa user of that printer. In a variant, at least one of the servers 100 to300 may be provided by an operator different from the printer vendor.

The communication system 2 further comprises a store terminal 10 and auser terminal 40. The store terminal 10 is a terminal used by anemployee of a store selling a printer (e.g., 50). The user terminal 40is a terminal used by a user of the printer. Each of the terminals 10,40 is a desktop PC (abbreviation of Personal Computer), a notebook PC, asmartphone, a tablet terminal, etc. The terminals 10, 40 are capable ofexecuting communication with each of the servers 100 to 300 via theInternet 6.

Each of printers 50, 60 is a printer purchased at a specific storeprovided with the store terminal 10, and is not currently connected withthe Internet 6. Upon being connected with the Internet 6, the printers50, 60 are capable of communicating with each of the servers 100 to 300via the Internet 6. A printer 70 is a printer purchased at a store otherthan the specific store, and is currently connected with the Internet 6.The printer 70 is capable of communicating with each of the servers 100to 300 via the Internet 6. The printers 50, 60, 70 have serial numbers“br001”, “br002”, “br003”, respectively.

(Configurations of Servers 100, 200, 300)

The service server 100 is a server mainly for collecting informationrelated to users receiving provision of a shipping service, andexecuting a shipping process of a consumable article. The service server100 comprises a network interface 102 and a controller 110. Hereinbelow,an interface will be denoted as “I/F”. The units 102, 110 are connectedto a bus line (of which reference number is omitted). The network I/F102 is connected to the Internet 6. The controller 110 comprises a CPU112 and a memory 114. The CPU 112 executes various processes inaccordance with a program 116 stored in the memory 114. The memory 114is constituted of a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, and thelike. The memory 114 stores a model table 120.

For each of the one or more printers, the model table 120 stores anassociation of a serial number (e.g., “br001”) for identifying theprinter, a model name (e.g., “xxx”) assigned to the printer, and a listof ink cartridge names (e.g., “AAA”, “BBB”) that can be used by theprinter.

The account server 200 is a server mainly for issuing accounts to usersand for providing various screens for accepting user operations. Theaccount server 200 comprises a network I/F 202 and a controller 210. Theunits 202, 210 are connected to a bus line (of which reference number isomitted). The network I/F 202 is connected to the Internet 6. Thecontroller 210 comprises a CPU 212 and a memory 214. The CPU 212executes various processes in accordance with a program 216 stored inthe memory 214. The memory 214 is constituted of a volatile memory, anon-volatile memory, and the like. The memory 214 stores a model table220 which is the same as the model table 120 in the service server 100.

In a case of receiving an instruction for registering accountinformation from, for example, the user terminal 40, the account server200 generates account information AI and sends the generated accountinformation AI to the user terminal 40. Further, the account server 200sends the generated account information AI to the storage server 300.Thereby, the account information AI is registered in the storage server300.

The storage server 300 is a server mainly for registering informationrelated to the shipping service. The storage server 300 comprises anetwork I/F 302 and a controller 310. The units 302, 310 are connectedto a bus line (of which reference number is omitted). The network I/F302 is connected to the Internet 6. The controller 310 comprises a CPU312 and a memory 314. The CPU 312 executes various processes inaccordance with a program 316 stored in the memory 314. The memory 314is constituted of a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, and thelike. The memory 314 stores an account table 322.

One or more pieces of account information are registered in the accounttable 322. Each account information is a combination of an account nameindicating a user and a password. As shown in FIG. 1, the accountinformation AI that was issued to the user of the user terminal 40 isregistered in the account table 322. Further, service information forthe user to receive provision of the shipping service from the servers100 to 300 can also be registered in the memory 314.

(Processes Executed by Devices 10, Etc.; FIG. 2 to FIG. 6)

Next, processes executed by the devices 10 to 70, 100 to 300 will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 6. In the present embodiment,various types of information for providing the shipping service arestored in the service server 100 when a printer is purchased by theuser. After the purchase of the printer, service information includingthe various types of information is registered in the storage server 300when the user terminal 40 and the printer are operated by the user. Theshipping service for a consumable article using the service informationis thereby started. Processes to realize this will be described indetail below.

Hereinbelow, for ease of understanding, when processes executed by theCPU 112, etc. of the servers 100 to 300 in accordance with the program116, etc. are described, the servers will be described as subjects ofaction, and the CPUs are not described as subjects of action. Further,since all communications described hereinbelow are executed via theInternet 6, the description “via the Internet 6” will be omitted.

(Registration Process; FIG. 2 to FIG. 4)

A process to register the service information in the storage server 300will be described with reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4. A user purchasesone printer 50 at a specific store provided with the store terminal 10.

When the printer 50 is purchased by the user, in S10, the store terminal10 accepts input of the serial number “br001” for identifying theprinter 50, from an employee of the store. Further, the store terminal10 accepts inputs of an e-mail address MA that can be used by the userand user information UI related to the user, from the employee. The mailaddress MA is a mail address of the user terminal 40 set in a mailer(not shown) of the user terminal 40. The user information UI includes aname, an address, billing information (e.g., credit card information),etc. of the user.

In S12, the store terminal 10 sends a mail request including the serialnumber “br001”, the mail address MA, and the user information UI, to theservice server 100. The mail request is a command for requesting sendingof an e-mail including the mail address MA as its destination.

Upon receiving the mail request from the store terminal 10 in S12, theservice server 100 stores, in the memory 114, each information (i.e.,the serial number “br001”, the mail address MA, the user information UI)included in the mail request in S20.

In S26, the service server 100 generates a URL (abbreviation of UniformResource Locator) 500 “http://server200.com/?serial=br001”. The URL 500includes a location string “http://server200.com” indicating a locationwithin the account server 200 (e.g., a specific area in the memory 214),and a query string “?serial=br001” indicating a query. The query stringincludes the serial number “br001” stored in S20.

In S28, the service server 100 generates an e-mail EM1 which includesthe mail address MA stored in S20 as the destination and includes a textin which the URL 500 generated in S26 is written. In S30, the serviceserver 100 sends the e-mail EM1. Thereby, the e-mail EM1 is sent to theuser terminal 40 via a mail server (not shown).

Upon receiving the e-mail EM1 from the service server 100 in S30, theuser terminal 40 (i.e., the mailer (not shown)) displays the e-mail EM1in S32. In S34, the user terminal 40 accepts a selection instruction ofselecting the URL 500 in the e-mail EM1 from the user.

The process continues to be described with reference to FIG. 3. In S40,the user terminal 40 (i.e., a browser (not shown)) sends a screenrequest including the URL 500 as its destination, to the account server200. The screen request is a command for requesting a registrationscreen that accepts an operation for registering the serviceinformation.

Upon receiving the screen request from the user terminal 40 in S40, theaccount server 200 obtains the serial number “br001” from the querystring “?serial=br001” in the URL 500, and then obtains the model name“xxx” and the cartridge names “AAA”, “BBB” associated with the serialnumber “br001” from the model table 220 in the memory 214, in S42.Further, in S42, the account server 200 generates registration screeninformation that represents a registration screen by using the modelname “xxx” and the cartridge names “AAA”, “BBB”. The registration screenincludes a start screen SC1, a selection screen SC2, and an input screenSC3.

The start screen SC1 is a screen indicating that an operation forregistering the service information starts. The start screen SC1includes the model name “xxx”, the serial number “br001”, a printerimage IM1, and a button B1 for causing the selection screen SC2 to bedisplayed. The printer image IM1 is a photo image of the printer havingthe model name “xxx” obtained in S42.

The selection screen SC2 is a screen for selecting a cartridge name ofan ink cartridge to be shipped by the shipping service. The selectionscreen SC2 includes the cartridge names “AAA”, “BBB” obtained in S42.The input screen SC3 includes an input field IF for inputting theaccount information AI and a generation button B2. If accountinformation that can be used by the user is not registered in theaccount table 322, the user selects the generation button B2. Thereby,an instruction for registering account information is sent to theaccount server 200, and account information that can be used by the useris newly registered in the account table 322.

In S44, the account server 200 sends the generated registration screeninformation to the user terminal 40.

Upon receiving the registration screen information from the accountserver 200 in S44, the user terminal 40 displays the start screen SC1 inS50. By viewing the model name “xxx” and the printer image IM1 in thestart screen SC1, the user can learn the printer 50 for which theoperation for registering the service information is to be executed.

When the button B1 in the start screen SC1 is selected in S52, the userterminal 40 displays the selection screen SC2 in S54. By viewing thecartridge names “AAA”, “BBB” in the selection screen SC2, the user canlearn the cartridge names “AAA”, “BBB” that can be used in the printer50.

The user selects, from among the cartridge names “AAA”, “BBB”, thecartridge name “AAA” indicating a cartridge which the user wishes to usein the purchased printer 50. When the cartridge name “AAA” in theselection screen SC2 is selected in S56, the user terminal 40 displaysthe input screen SC3 in S58. When the account information AI is inputtedto the input field IF in the input screen SC3 in S60, the user terminal40 sends the cartridge name “AAA” selected in the selection screen SC2and the account information AI inputted in the input screen SC3, to theaccount server 200 in S62.

Upon receiving the cartridge name “AAA” and the account information AIin S62, the account server 200 sends the account information AI to thestorage server 300 in S64.

Upon receiving the account information AI from the account server 200 inS64, the storage server 300 succeeds in authentication of the accountinformation AI in S70. In this case, the storage server 300 generates anaccount number “A01” which is a unique number, and stores the accountnumber “A01” in association with the account information AI in theaccount table 322. In S72, the storage server 300 sends a successnotification indicating that authentication of the account informationAI succeeded, to the account server 200. The success notificationincludes the account number “A01”.

Upon receiving the success notification from the storage server 300 inS72, the account server 200 sends redirect information to the userterminal 40 in S74. The redirect information is information for causingthe user terminal 40 to send a PIN (abbreviation of PersonalIdentification Number) request (to be described later) to the serviceserver 100. The redirect information includes the account number “A01”included in the success notification and the cartridge name “AAA”received in S62.

Upon receiving the redirect information from the account server 200 inS74, the user terminal 40 sends a PIN request to the service server 100in S76. The PIN request is a command for requesting the service server100 to send a PIN code. The PIN code is used when the serviceinformation is registered in the storage server 300. The PIN requestincludes the account number “A01” included in the redirect informationand the cartridge name “AAA” included in the redirect information.

Upon receiving the PIN request from the user terminal 40 in S76, theservice server 100 stores the account number “A01” and the cartridgename “AAA” included in the PIN request in association with one anotherin the memory 114 in S78. In S80, the service server 100 sends, to thestorage server 300, a generation request for requesting the storageserver 300 to generate a PIN code. The generation request includes theaccount number “A01” stored in S78.

Upon receiving the generation request from the service server 100 inS80, the storage server 300 generates a PIN code PC1 which is a uniquestring, in S82. Then the storage server 300 stores the generated PINcode PC1 in the memory 314 in association with the account number “A01”stored in S70. Thereby, the account information AI, the account number“A01”, and the PIN code PC1 are associated with one another in thememory 314. In S84, the storage server 300 sends the PIN code PC1 to theservice server 100.

Upon receiving the PIN code PC1 from the storage server 300 in S84, theservice server 100 sends, to the user terminal 40, PIN screeninformation representing a PIN screen SC4 that includes the received PINcode PC1, in S86. That is, in S84 and S86, the PIN code PC1 is sent fromthe storage server 300 to the user terminal 40 via the service server100.

Upon receiving the PIN screen information from the service server 100 inS86, the user terminal 40 displays the PIN screen SC4 in S90. The PINscreen SC4 includes a character string indicating the PIN code PC1 and acharacter string “Waiting” indicating that the process for registeringthe service information is being executed.

The process continues to be described with reference to FIG. 4. Afterviewing the PIN screen SC4, the user operates a printer (e.g., 50) toinput a PIN code (e.g., PC1) to the printer. Hereafter, the printeroperated by the user will be described as “target printer”, and the PINcode inputted to the target printer will be described as “target PINcode”. Since the serial number “br001” of the printer 50 was sent to theservice server 100 in S12 of FIG. 2, the service information forproviding the shipping service for the printer 50 is supposed to beregistered. For this purpose, the user is supposed to operate theprinter 50 as the target printer to input the target PIN code to theprinter 50. However, it is possible that the user wrongly operates theprinter 70, which is different from the printer 50, as the targetprinter, and wrongly inputs the target PIN code to the printer 70. Inthe present embodiment, the service information is not registered in thestorage server 300 in a case where such a wrong operation is performedsince the process described below is executed.

Upon accepting input of the target PIN code from the user in S110, thetarget printer sends the target PIN code and a target serial number(e.g., “br001”) for identifying the target printer, to the storageserver 300 in S112.

Upon receiving the target PIN code and the target serial number from thetarget printer in S112, the storage server 300 determines whether thetarget PIN code and the PIN code PC1 in the memory 314 are identical inS114. For example, in a case where the user wrongly inputted a PIN codedifferent from the PIN code PC1 to the target printer, or in a casewhere a third party different from the user inputted a PIN codedifferent from the PIN code PC1 to the target printer, the storageserver 300 determines that the target PIN code and the PIN code PC1 arenot identical (NO in S114), and sends the target printer a failurenotification indicating that authentication of the PIN code failed. Inthis case, service information is not registered in the storage server30. Further, for example, in a case where the user inputted the PIN codePC1 to the target printer, the storage server 300 determines that thetarget PIN code and the PIN code PC1 are identical (YES in S114), andproceeds to S118. As such, since authentication of the PIN code PC1 isexecuted, the service information can be registered in response to aninstruction from an appropriate user.

In S118, the storage server 300 stores the target serial number inassociation with the PIN code PC1 in the memory 314. Thereby, theaccount information AI, the account number “A01”, the PIN code PC1, andthe target serial number are associated with one another in the memory314.

Here, the service server 100 repeatedly sends an inquiry signal to thestorage server 300 (S100 and S120 of FIG. 4), with reception of the PINcode PC1 from the storage server 300 as a trigger (S84 of FIG. 3). Theinquiry signal is a signal for inquiring whether the storage server 300has received the target serial number and the target PIN code from thetarget printer. The inquiry signal includes the account number “A01”.

In a case of receiving the inquiry signal before the target serialnumber and the target PIN code are received from the target printer (ina case of S100), the storage server 300 does not send the service server100 a response to the inquiry signal since the target serial number isnot associated with the account number “A01” included in the inquirysignal in the memory 314. Further, in a case of receiving the inquirysignal after the target serial number and the target PIN code have beenreceived from the target printer (in a case of S120), the storage server300 obtains the target serial number associated with the account number“A01” from the memory 314, and sends the target serial number to theservice server 100 in S122.

Here, a comparative example is assumed in which repetitive sending ofthe inquiry signal is started at a predetermined timing before the PINcode PC1 is sent to the service server 100 in S84 of FIG. 3. Thepredetermined timing is, for example, the timing of sending the e-mailEM1 in S30 of FIG. 2. In this case, during a period from the sending ofthe e-mail EM1 until the sending of the PIN code PC1, the inquiry signalis sent repeatedly despite the storage server 300 not receiving the PINcode PC1, and thus a communication load is high. In contrast, as in thepresent embodiment, the service server 100 starts repeatedly sending theinquiry signal with the reception of the PIN code PC1 from the storageserver 300 as the trigger (S100). Therefore, the communication loadbetween the servers 100, 300 can be reduced compared to the comparativeexample.

Upon receiving the target serial number from the storage server 300 inS122, the service server 100 determines whether the target serial numberand the serial number “br001” in the memory 114 are identical in S130.For example, in the case where the user wrongly inputted the target PINcode to the printer 70, not to the printer 50, the service server 100determines that the target serial number, which is the serial number“br003” of the printer 70, and the serial number “br001” in the memory114 are not identical (NO in S130), and sends error information to thestorage server 300 in S132. The error information indicates that thetarget PIN code was inputted to the wrong printer 70. In this case, thestorage server 300 deletes the target serial number in the memory 314.Thus, the service information is not registered in the storage server30.

Further, in the case of determining NO in S130, the service server 100sends in S133, to the user terminal 40, update information for updatingthe PIN screen SC4 displayed in S90 of FIG. 3. The update informationincludes the error information.

Upon receiving the update information from the service server 100 inS133, the user terminal 40 updates the PIN screen SC4 by using the errorinformation in the update information in S134. Specifically, instead ofthe character string “Waiting” in the PIN screen SC4, a character string“Error” indicating that the target PIN code was inputted to the wrongprinter is displayed. Thereby, the user can learn that the target PINcode was inputted to the wrong printer.

Further, for example, in a case where the user has correctly inputtedthe target PIN code to the printer 50, the service server 100 determinesthat the target serial number, which is the serial number “br001” of theprinter 50, and the serial number “br001” in the memory 114 areidentical (YES in S130), and proceeds to S136.

In S136, the service server 100 registers the serial number “br001” andthe cartridge name “AAA” (i.e., the cartridge name “AAA” stored in S78of FIG. 3) in association with one another in the memory 114.

In S138, the service server 100 sends the storage server 300 aregistration request for requesting the storage server 300 to registerthe service information. The registration request includes eachinformation stored in the memory 114 in S20 of FIG. 2 (i.e., the serialnumber “br001”, the mail address MA, the user information UI).

Upon receiving the registration request from the service server 100 inS138, the storage server 300 registers service information SI in thememory 314 in S140. Specifically, by using the serial number “br001”included in the registration request, the storage server 300 obtains theaccount information AI stored in association with the serial number“br001” (see S118) from the memory 314. Then, the storage server 300registers, in the memory 314, the service information SI including theobtained account information AI and each information included in theregistration request (i.e., the serial number “br001”, the mail addressMA, the user information UI). In S142, the storage server 300 sends, tothe printer 50, communication information for executing communicationwith the storage server 300. The communication information is, forexample, an access token generated by the storage server 300.

Further, in the case of determining YES in S130, the service server 100sends update information including success information to the userterminal 40 in S144. The success information indicates that the targetPIN code was inputted to the correct printer 50 and that registration ofthe service information SI succeeded.

Upon receiving the update information from the service server 100 inS144, the user terminal 40 updates the PIN screen SC4 by using thesuccess information in the update information in S146. Specifically, acharacter string “Success” indicating that the registration of theservice information SI succeeded is displayed in the PIN screen SC4,instead of the character string “Waiting”. Thereby, the user can learnthat the registration of the service information SI succeeded. When S146ends, the registration process ends.

(Cartridge Shipping Process; FIG. 5)

Next, a process executed for shipping an ink cartridge to the user afterthe registration process of FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 will be described withreference to FIG. 5.

In S150, the printer 50 uses the communication information received inS142 of FIG. 4 to send, to the storage server 300, the serial number“br001” of the printer 50 and remaining amount information thatindicates a remaining amount of an ink cartridge currently being used bythe printer 50. The printer 50 may execute the communication of S150 ona regular basis, or may execute the communication of S150 when theremaining amount of the ink cartridge has become less than a threshold.

In case of receiving the serial number “br001” and the remaining amountinformation from the printer 50 in S150, the storage server 300 sendsthe serial number “br001” and the remaining amount information to theservice server 100 in S152.

Upon receiving the serial number “br001” and the remaining amountinformation from the storage server 300 in S152, the service server 100determines in S154 whether the remaining amount indicated by theremaining amount information is equal to or less than a predeterminedvalue. In a case of determining that the remaining amount is greaterthan the predetermined value, the service server 100 does not executeprocesses thereafter. On the other hand, in case of determining that theremaining amount is equal to or less than the predetermined value, theservice server 100 sends, to the storage server 300, an informationrequest for requesting the user information in the service informationSI in S156. The information request includes the serial number “br001”.

Upon receiving the information request from the service server 100 inS156, the storage server 300 obtains the service information SIincluding the serial number “br001” from the memory 314, and sends theuser information UI included in the obtained service information SI tothe service server 100 in S158.

Upon receiving the user information UI from the storage server 300 inS158, the service server 100 obtains the cartridge name “AAA” associatedwith the serial number “br001” from the memory 114 and executes ashipping process for shipping the ink cartridge indicated by thecartridge name “AAA” in S160. Specifically, the service server 100 makespayment for the purchase of the ink cartridge indicated by the cartridgename “AAA” by using the billing information (e.g., the credit cardinformation) included in the user information UI. Then, the serviceserver 100 designates the name and address of the user included in theuser information UI, and arranges shipping of the ink cartridge.Thereby, an employee of a shipping agent ships the ink cartridge. WhenS160 ends, the cartridge shipping process ends.

(Registration Process Different From FIG. 2; FIG. 6)

Unlike the case of FIG. 2, the user purchases the two printers 50, 60.S210 is the same as S10 of FIG. 2 except for accepting input of theserial numbers “br001”, “br002” of the two printers 50, 60. S212 is thesame as S12 of FIG. 2 except for the two serial numbers “br001”, “br002”being sent. Thereby, in S220, the service server 100 stores eachinformation included in the mail request (the serial number “br001”, theserial number “br002”, the mail address MA, the user information UI) inthe memory 114.

In S226, the service server 100 generates the URL 500 and a URL 502“http://server200.com/?serial=br002”. The URL 502 is the same as the URL500 except for including the serial number “br002”. In S228, the serviceserver 100 generates one e-mail EM2 including a text in which the URL500 and the URL 502 are written. In S230, the service server 100 sendsthe generated e-mail EM2 to the user terminal 40.

S232 is the same as S32 of FIG. 2 except for displaying the e-mail EM2.The process executed in the case where the URL 500 in the e-mail EM2 isselected is the same as that of FIG. 3, FIG. 4. On the other hand, aprocess executed in a case where the URL 502 in the e-mail EM2 isselected is the same as that of FIG. 3, FIG. 4 except for a start screenSC12 including the serial number “br002” being displayed, and a PIN codePC2 different from the PIN code PC1 being generated.

For example, a comparative example is assumed in which, instead of S228,one e-mail including a text in which the URL 500 is written and anothere-mail including a text in which the URL 502 is written are sent. Inthis case, the user has to view the two e-mails in the user terminal 40.In contrast, in the present embodiment, the user simply needs to viewthe single e-mail EM2 including the two URLs 500, 502 (S232), andtherefore user convenience is improved compared to the comparativeexample.

(Effects of Present Embodiment)

According to the above configuration, in the case of receiving theserial number “br001” for identifying the printer 50 from the storeterminal 10 (S12 of FIG. 2), the service server 100 generates the URL500 including the serial number “br001” (S26) and sends the e-mail EM1including the URL 500 to the user terminal 40 (S30). Then, in the casewhere the URL 500 in the e-mail EM1 is selected by the user (S34), theaccount server 200 sends the registration screen information to the userterminal 40 (S44 of FIG. 3). Thereby, the screens SC1 to SC3 forregistering the service information are displayed on the user terminal40. As a result, the user can register the service information SI in thestorage server 300 by using the screens SC1 to SC3, even withoutinputting a URL for accessing the account server 200 or searching forthe URL. As such, user convenience for registering the serviceinformation SI in the storage server 300 can be improved.

Further, for example, a comparative example is assumed in which theprocess of S130 of FIG. 4 is not executed. In this case, when the PINcode PC1 is inputted to the printer 70, the authentication of the PINcode PC1 succeeds, as a result of which the storage server 300 canregister service information including a serial number “br003” of theprinter 70. In this case, the service server 100 comes to provide theshipping service for the printer 70 that is not a target of the shippingservice. In contrast, according to the configuration of the presentembodiment, the service server 100 receives the serial number “br001”from the store terminal 10 and stores the serial number “br001” in thememory 114 (S12, S20). Then, in the case where the target serial numberand the serial number “br001” in the memory 114 are identical (YES inS130 of FIG. 4) due to the PIN code PC1 having been inputted to theprinter 50, the storage server 300 registers the service information SIthat includes information (e.g., the user information UI) for the userof the printer 50 to receive provision of the shipping service (S140).On the other hand, in the case where the target serial number and theserial number “br001” in the memory 114 are not identical (NO in S130 ofFIG. 4) due to the PIN code PC1 having been inputted to the printer 70,the storage server 300 does not register the service information SI(S132, S133). As such, the service server 100 can provide the shippingservice for the appropriate printer 50.

(Correspondence Relationships)

The shipping service and the servers 100 to 300 are examples of“specific service” and “server system”, respectively. The printer 50,the serial number “br001”, the printer 60, and the serial number “br002”are examples of “first apparatus”, “first identification information”,“second apparatus”, and “second identification information”,respectively. The service server 100 and the account server 200 areexamples of “first server” and “second server”, respectively. The storeterminal 10 and the user terminal 40 are examples of “first terminaldevice” and “second terminal device”, respectively. The URL 500 and theURL 502 are examples of “first URL” and “second URL”, respectively. Theserial number “br001” and the e-mail EM1 (or EM2) are examples of “firstrelated information” and “message”. The screens SC1 to SC3 of FIG. 3 andthe registration screen information of S44 are examples of “registrationscreen” and “screen information”, respectively. The model table 120 isan example of “table”. The model name “xxx”, and the model name “xxx”and the printer image IM1 in the start screen SC1 of FIG. 3 are examplesof “first model information” and “image representing the model”,respectively. The mail address MA is an example of “destinationinformation”. The remaining amount information of FIG. 5 and theshipping process of S160 are examples of “status information” and“service process”, respectively.

S12, S26, and S30 of FIG. 2 are examples of “receiving the firstidentification information from the first terminal device”, “generatingfirst URL”, and “sending the message”, respectively. S40 and S46 of FIG.3 are examples of “receiving the first related information from thesecond terminal device” and “sending screen information to the secondterminal device”, respectively.

Second Embodiment

The present embodiment is different from the first embodiment mainly inthe process of the service server 100 generating a URL. The userpurchases the two printers 50, 60. S310 to S320 are the same as S210 toS220 of FIG. 6. In S322, the service server 100 obtains, from the modeltable 120 in the memory 114, the model name “xxx” associated with theserial number “br001” and the model name “xxx” associated with theserial number “br002”.

In S324, the service server 100 determines whether the two model namesobtained in S322 are identical. In the case of FIG. 7, since the modelname “xxx” associated with the serial number “br001” and the model name“xxx” associated with the serial number “br002” are identical, theservice server 100 determines YES in S324 and proceeds to S326. On theother hand, for example, in a case where the models of the two printers50, 60 are different, the two model names obtained in S322 are notidentical, and therefore the service server 100 determines NO in S324and executes the same process as S226 to S232 of FIG. 6.

In S326, the service server 100 generates one URL 504“http://server200.com/?serial=br001&serial=br002”. The URL 504 is thesame as the URL 500 except for including a query string“?serial=br001&serial=br002”. The query string of the URL 504 includesthe serial number “br001” and the serial number “br002”. In S328, theservice server 100 generates an e-mail EM3 including the URL 504. InS330, the service server 100 sends the generated e-mail EM3 to the userterminal 40.

S332 is the same as S32 of FIG. 2 except for displaying the e-mail EM3.The user terminal 40 accepts, from the user, a selection instruction ofselecting the URL 504 in the e-mail EM3. In this case, the user terminal40 sends, to the account server 200, a screen request including the URL504 as its destination (see S40 of FIG. 3). Thereby, the user terminal40 receives registration screen information from the account server 200and displays a start screen SC14 (see S50 of FIG. 3). The start screenSC14 is the same as the start screen SC1 of FIG. 3 except for includingthe serial number “br001” and the serial number “br002”. In a case wherethe button B1 in the start screen SC14 is selected, the selection screenSC2 is displayed. The subsequent processes are the same as S54 to S90 ofFIG. 3 except for a PIN code PC3, which is different from the PIN codePC1, being generated and displayed. The PIN code PC3 is inputted to theprinter 50 and to the printer 60 (see S110 of FIG. 4). As a result, theservice server 100 registers the serial number “br001”, the serialnumber “br002”, and the cartridge name “AAA” in association with oneanother in the memory 114 (see S136 of FIG. 4), and the storage server300 registers the service information SI including both the serialnumber “br001” and the serial number “br002” in the memory 314 (seeS140).

According to such a configuration, the user can register the serviceinformation SI for the printers 50, 60 by selecting the one URL 504 inthe e-mail EM3 and inputting the same PIN code PC3 to the two printers50, 60. Therefore, user convenience can be improved.

Further, as described above, in the case of determining that the twomodel names obtained in S322 are identical (YES in S324), the serviceserver 100 generates the one URL 504 (S326) and sends the e-mail EM3including the URL 504 (S330). Then, after selecting the URL 504 in thee-mail EM3, the user can use the selection screen SC2 to appropriatelyselect one ink cartridge (i.e., the cartridge name “AAA”) that can beused in the two printers 50, 60 having the same model “xxx”. On theother hand, in the case of determining that the two model names obtainedin S322 are not identical (NO in S324), the service server 100 generatesthe two URLs 500, 502 corresponding to the two printers and sends thee-mail EM2 including the two URLs 500, 502 (S230 of FIG. 6). Afterselecting the URL 500, the user can select an appropriate ink cartridgethat can be used in the printer corresponding to the URL 500, andfurther, after selecting the URL 502, the user can select an appropriateink cartridge that can be used in the printer corresponding to the URL502. Therefore, the user can receive provision of the shipping servicefor the ink cartridge corresponding to the model of the printer.

The technique of the present embodiment can also be adopted to a casewhere three or more printers are purchased and three or more serialnumbers are inputted. For example, in a case where three model names ofthree printers are all identical, one URL including the three serialnumbers is generated. Further, for example, in a case where two modelnames among the three model names of the three printers are identical,one URL including two serial numbers corresponding to the two modelnames and one URL including a serial number corresponding to the modelname other than the two model names may be generated. The serial number“br002” and the model name “xxx” are examples of “second relatedinformation” and “second model information”, respectively. The URL 504is an example of “one first URL”.

(Variant 1) The communication system 2 may comprise one server, insteadof the servers 100 to 300. In this case, the processes of FIG. 2 to FIG.7 may be executed by the one server. One server executes variousprocesses in the present variant, whereas the three servers executevarious processes in each of the embodiments above. Therefore, each ofthe embodiments above can reduce a processing load compared to thepresent variant. In the present variant, the one server is an example of“server system”.

(Variant 2) In each of the above embodiments, the URL 500 includes theserial number “br001”. Instead, the URL 500 may include an encryptedserial number. In this case, the account server 200 may decrypt theencrypted serial number included in the screen request of S40 of FIG. 3to obtain the serial number “br001”. Further, the URL 500 may includepredetermined information (e.g., a sequence number) stored inassociation with the serial number “br001” in the service server 100. Inthis case, the account server 200 may obtain the serial number “br001”from the service server 100 by using the predetermined informationincluded in the screen request of S40 of FIG. 3. Further, the URL 500may include an area character string (e.g., “areal”) indicating aspecific area in the server in which the serial number “br001” isstored. In this case, the URL 500 may not include the query string, andmay be, for example, “http://server200.com/areal”. In the presentvariant, the encrypted serial number, the predetermined information, andthe area character string are examples of “first related information”.

(Variant 3) In each of the above embodiments, the service server 100sends an e-mail (S30 of FIG. 2). Instead, the service server 100 maysend an SMS (abbreviation of Short Message Service) message, or may sendan SNS (Social Networking Service) message. In this case, the serviceserver 100 may receive a telephone number, or an SNS account name fromthe store terminal 10 as the destination of the message. In the presentvariant, the SMS message and the SNS message are examples of “message”,and the telephone number and the SNS account name are examples of“destination information”.

(Variant 4) In each of the above embodiments, the model table 120 storesa model name Instead, the model table 120 may store a part of a modelname (e.g., a character string representing one model group). In thepresent variant, the part of the model name is an example of “modelinformation”.

(Variant 5) In S42 of FIG. 3, the process of obtaining the model namemay not be executed. According to the present variant, “obtaining firstmodel information” can be omitted.

(Variant 6) The service server 100 may not store the model table 120.According to the present variant, “server system” may not comprise amemory storing “table”.

(Variant 7) In each of the above embodiments, in the case where theserial number “br001” and the mail address MA are inputted to the storeterminal 10, the service server 100 receives the mail address MA fromthe store terminal 10. Instead, the mail address MA may be stored in theservice server 100 before the serial number “br001” is inputted to thestore terminal 10. According to the present variation, “destinationinformation” may not be received from the first terminal device togetherwith the first identification information.

(Variant 8) The process of S324 of FIG. 7 may not be executed. Theservice server 100 may generate one URL even in the case where the twoobtained model names are different from one another. In the presentvariant, “obtaining second model information” can be omitted.

(Variant 9) In the second embodiment described above, in the case wherethe two model names are not identical (S324 of FIG. 7), the serviceserver 100 sends the one e-mail EM2 including the two URLs 500, 502 tothe user terminal 40 (S230 of FIG. 6). Instead, the service server 100may send, to the user terminal 40, one e-mail including the URL 500 andanother e-mail including the URL 502. In the present variant, the onee-mail and the other e-mail are examples of “message”.

(Variant 10) In the above embodiments, information related to theprinter 50 is registered in the service server 100 and the storageserver 300, and the shipping service for the consumable article to theuser of the printer 50 is executed from the service server 100. Instead,each of the servers 100, 300 may be a server provided by a vendor of aterminal device such as a PC, a smartphone, etc. In this case, each ofthe servers 100, 300 may register information related to the terminaldevice, and upon receiving a serial number from the terminal device inS150 of FIG. 5, may execute an information providing service ofproviding a user with the information related to the terminal device(e.g., information regarding new model, etc.). In the present variant,the terminal device and the information providing service are examplesof “first apparatus” and “specific service” respectively, and “receivingstatus information from the first apparatus” and “executing a serviceprocess” can be omitted.

(Variant 11) In each of the above embodiments, the processes of FIG. 2to FIG. 7 are realized by the CPU 112, etc. of the server 100, etc.executing the program 116, etc. (i.e., software). Instead, any of theprocesses may be realized by hardware such as a logic circuit.

What is claimed is:
 1. A server system configured to provide a specificservice, the server system comprising: one or more processors; and oneor more memories storing one or more computer-readable instructionstherein, the one or more computer-readable instructions, when executedby the one or more processors, causing the server system to: in a casewhere first identification information for identifying a first apparatusis inputted to a first terminal device, receive the first identificationinformation from the first terminal device; in a case where the firstidentification information is received from the first terminal device,generate a first Uniform Resource Locator (URL) indicating a location inthe server system, the first URL including first related informationbeing related to the first identification information; send a messageincluding the generated first URL to a second terminal device; in a casewhere a selection instruction of selecting the first URL included in themessage displayed on the second terminal device is inputted to thesecond terminal device, receive the first related information includedin the first URL from the second terminal device; and in a case wherethe first related information is received from the second terminaldevice, send screen information to the second terminal device, thescreen information representing a registration screen being related to aprocess for registering service information in the server system, theservice information including information for a user of the firstapparatus identified by the first identification information beingrelated to the first related information to receive provision of thespecific service from the server system.
 2. The server system as inclaim 1, wherein the one or more computer-readable instructions, whenexecuted by the one or more processors, further cause the server systemto: in the case where the first related information is received from thesecond terminal device, obtain first model information being related toa model of the first apparatus by using the first identificationinformation being related to the first related information; and generatethe screen information representing the registration screen including animage representing the model of the first apparatus by using theobtained first model information.
 3. The server system as in claim 2,wherein the one or more memories store a table in which, for each of oneor more apparatuses, identification information for identifying theapparatus is associated with model information being related to a modelof the apparatus, and the first model information being associated withthe first identification information in the table in the one or morememories is obtained.
 4. The server system as in claim 1, wherein thefirst related information is identical to the first identificationinformation.
 5. The server system as in claim 1, comprising: a firstserver comprising a first processor among the one or more processors anda first memory among the one or more memories, the first memory storingfirst computer-readable instructions among the one or morecomputer-readable instructions; and a second server configuredseparately from the first server, the second server comprising a secondprocessor among the one or more processors and a second memory among theone or more memories, the second memory storing second computer-readableinstructions among the one or more computer-readable instructions,wherein the first computer-readable instructions, when executed by thefirst processor, cause the first server to: receive the firstidentification information from the first terminal device; generate thefirst URL; and send the message to the second terminal device, whereinthe second computer-readable instructions, when executed by the secondprocessor, cause the second server to: receive the first relatedinformation from the second terminal device; and send the screeninformation to the second terminal device.
 6. The server system as inclaim 1, wherein the one or more computer-readable instructions, whenexecuted by the one or more processors, further cause the server systemto: in a case where the first identification information and destinationinformation indicating a destination of the message are inputted to thefirst terminal device, receive the destination information from thefirst terminal device, wherein the message is sent to the secondterminal device by using the destination information.
 7. The serversystem as in claim 1, wherein the one or more computer-readableinstructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further causethe server system to: in a case where the first identificationinformation for identifying the first apparatus and secondidentification information for identifying a second apparatus beingdifferent from the first apparatus are inputted to the first terminaldevice, receive the second identification information from the firstterminal device, wherein in a case where the first identificationinformation and the second identification information are received fromthe first terminal device, the first URL including the first relatedinformation being related to the first identification information and asecond URL are generated, the second URL indicating a location in theserver system and including second related information being related tothe second identification information, and the message is one messageincluding the first URL and the second URL.
 8. The server system as inclaim 1, wherein the one or more computer-readable instructions, whenexecuted by the one or more processors, further cause the server systemto: in a case where the first identification information for identifyingthe first apparatus and second identification information foridentifying a second apparatus being different from the first apparatusare inputted to the first terminal device, receive the secondidentification information from the first terminal device, wherein in acase where the first identification information and the secondidentification information are received from the first terminal device,one URL is generated as the first URL, the one URL including the firstrelated information being related to the first identificationinformation and second related information being related to the secondidentification information, and the message includes the one URL, whichis the first URL, including the first related information and the secondrelated information.
 9. The server system as in claim 8, wherein the oneor more computer-readable instructions, when executed by the one or moreprocessors, further cause the server system to: in a case where thefirst identification information and the second identificationinformation are received from the first terminal device, obtain firstmodel information being related to a model of the first apparatus byusing the first identification information; and obtain second modelinformation being related to a model of the second apparatus by usingthe second identification information, wherein in a case where the firstmodel information is identical to the second model information, the oneURL is generated as the first URL, the one URL including the firstrelated information and the second related information; and the messageincludes the one URL, which is the first URL, including the firstrelation information and the second relation information, wherein in acase where the first model information is not identical to the secondmodel information, the first URL including the first related informationand not including the second related information is generated, whereinthe one or more computer-readable instructions, when executed by the oneor more processors, further cause the server system to: in the casewhere the first model information is not identical to the second modelinformation, generate a second URL indicating a location in the serversystem and including the second related information being related to thesecond identification information, wherein in the case where the firstmodel information is not identical to the second model information, themessage includes the first URL and the second URL.
 10. The server systemas in claim 1, wherein the one or more computer-readable instructions,when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the serversystem to: receive, from the first apparatus, status information thatindicates a usage status of a consumable article currently being used inthe first apparatus after the service information has been registered inthe server system; and execute, by using the received statusinformation, a service process for providing the specific service ofshipping a consumable article to be used in the first apparatus.
 11. Anon-transitory computer-readable medium storing one or morecomputer-readable instructions for a server system, the one or morecomputer-readable instructions, when executed by one or more processorsof the server system, causing the server system to: in a case wherefirst identification information for identifying a first apparatus isinputted to a first terminal device, receive the first identificationinformation from the first terminal device; in a case where the firstidentification information is received from the first terminal device,generate a first Uniform Resource Locator (URL) indicating a location inthe server system, the first URL including first related informationbeing related to the first identification information; send a messageincluding the generated first URL to a second terminal device; in a casewhere a selection instruction of selecting the first URL included in themessage displayed on the second terminal device is inputted to thesecond terminal device, receive the first related information includedin the first URL from the second terminal device; and in a case wherethe first related information is received from the second terminaldevice, send screen information to the second terminal device, thescreen information representing a registration screen being related to aprocess for registering service information in the server system, theservice information including information for a user of the firstapparatus identified by the first identification information beingrelated to the first related information to receive provision of thespecific service from the server system.
 12. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium as in claim 11, wherein the one or morecomputer-readable instructions, when executed by the one or moreprocessors, further cause the server system to: in a case where thefirst related information is received from the second terminal device,obtain first model information being related to a model of the firstapparatus by using the first identification information being related tothe first related information; and generate the screen informationrepresenting the registration screen including an image representing themodel of the first apparatus by using the obtained first modelinformation.
 13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as in claim12, wherein the server system comprises one or more memories storing atable in which, for each of one or more apparatuses, identificationinformation for identifying the apparatus is associated with modelinformation being related to a model of the apparatus, and the firstmodel information being associated with the first identificationinformation in the table in the one or more memories is obtained. 14.The non-transitory computer-readable medium as in claim 11, wherein thefirst related information is identical to the first identificationinformation.
 15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as in claim11, wherein the one or more computer-readable instructions, whenexecuted by the one or more processors, further cause the server systemto: in a case where the first identification information and destinationinformation indicating a destination of the message are inputted to thefirst terminal device, receive the destination information from thefirst terminal device, wherein the message is sent to the secondterminal device by using the destination information.
 16. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium as in claim 11, wherein the oneor more computer-readable instructions, when executed by the one or moreprocessors, further cause the server system to: in a case where thefirst identification information for identifying the first apparatus andsecond identification information for identifying a second apparatusbeing different from the first apparatus are inputted to the firstterminal device, receive the second identification information from thefirst terminal device, wherein in a case where the first identificationinformation and the second identification information are received fromthe first terminal device, the first URL including the first relatedinformation being related to the first identification information and asecond URL are generated, the second URL indicating a location in theserver system and including second related information being related tothe second identification information, and the message is one messageincluding the first URL and the second URL.
 17. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium as in claim 11, wherein the one or morecomputer-readable instructions, when executed by the one or moreprocessors, further cause the server system to: in a case where thefirst identification information for identifying the first apparatus andsecond identification information for identifying a second apparatusbeing different from the first apparatus are inputted to the firstterminal device, receive the second identification information from thefirst terminal device, wherein in a case where the first identificationinformation and the second identification information are received fromthe first terminal device, one URL is generated as the first URL, theone URL including the first related information being related to thefirst identification information and second related information beingrelated to the second identification information, and the messageincludes the one URL, which is the first URL, including the firstrelated information and the second related information.
 18. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium as in claim 17, wherein the oneor more computer-readable instructions, when executed by the one or moreprocessors, further cause the server system to: in a case where thefirst identification information and the second identificationinformation are received from the first terminal device, obtain firstmodel information being related to a model of the first apparatus byusing the first identification information; and obtain second modelinformation being related to a model of the second apparatus by usingthe second identification information, wherein in a case where the firstmodel information is identical to the second model information, the oneURL is generated as the first URL, the one URL including the firstrelated information and the second related information; and the messageincludes the one URL, which is the first URL, including the firstrelation information and the second relation information, wherein in acase where the first model information is not identical to the secondmodel information, the first URL including the first related informationand not including the second related information is generated, whereinthe one or more computer-readable instructions, when executed by the oneor more processors, further cause the server system to: in the casewhere the first model information is not identical to the second modelinformation, generate a second URL indicating a location in the serversystem and including the second related information being related to thesecond identification information, wherein in the case where the firstmodel information is not identical to the second model information, themessage includes the first URL and the second URL.
 19. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium as in claim 11, wherein the oneor more computer-readable instructions, when executed by the one or moreprocessors, further cause the server system to: receive, from the firstapparatus, status information indicating a usage status of a consumablearticle currently being used in the first apparatus after the serviceinformation has been registered in the server system; and execute, byusing the received status information, a service process for providingthe specific service of shipping a consumable article to be used in thefirst apparatus.
 20. A method performed by a server system, the methodcomprising: in a case where first identification information foridentifying a first apparatus is inputted to a first terminal device,receiving the first identification information from the first terminaldevice; in a case where the first identification information is receivedfrom the first terminal device, generating a first Uniform ResourceLocator (URL) indicating a location in the server system, the first URLincluding first related information being related to the firstidentification information; sending a message including the generatedfirst URL to a second terminal device; in a case where a selectioninstruction of selecting the first URL included in the message displayedon the second terminal device is inputted to the second terminal device,receiving the first related information included in the first URL fromthe second terminal device; and in a case where the first relatedinformation is received from the second terminal device, sending screeninformation to the second terminal device, the screen informationrepresenting a registration screen being related to a process forregistering service information in the server system, the serviceinformation including information for a user of the first apparatusidentified by the first identification information being related to thefirst related information to receive provision of the specific servicefrom the server system.